Cervical cytology in Western Australia: Frequency, geographical and socioeconomic distributions and providers of the service

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Abstract
Basic data were obtained from the records of 16069 women who had smears taken for cervical cytological examination in Western Australia during an eight-week period in 1983. The peak smear rate was 340.7 per 1000 at 25-29 years of age and fell thereafter with age. The estimated peak frequency of smears that were designated as "screening" smears was 178.3 per 1000 at 30-34 years of age. Screening smears comprised 39% to 66% of the total number of smears, depending on age. After correction for the estimated prevalence of past hysterectomy, only in the age range 20-34 years did the rate of all smears approach the rate of screening smears that would be obtained under a recommended frequency of once every three years. The frequency of screening smears was 20% less in rural areas of Western Australia than in the captial city, Perth. In Perth it fell with decreasing socioeconomic status. General practitioners took 62.4% of all smears and 70.3% of screening smears. On average, female general practitioners took twice as many smears than did male general practitioners.